‘Expel Pakistani envoy from Dhaka’

bdnews24.com

Students of Dhaka University have demanded expulsion of Pakistan High Commissioner in Dhaka after that country’s national and provincial assemblies passed a resolution expressing concern over the execution of war crimes convict Abdul Quader Molla.

They made the demand after taking out a torchlight procession on the campus on Tuesday night.

The protesters also burned the effigies of Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami leader and National Assembly member Sher Akbar Khan, who had tabled the resolution, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and the country’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. The Pakistan national and provincial assemblies on Monday adopted the resolutions expressing concern over the hanging of war criminal Molla and terming him “a supporter of the undivided Pakistan". The Assistant Secretary General of Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami was executed last Thursday night for his crimes against humanity including genocide during the War of Independence against Pakistan in 1971. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s Chairman Imran Khan said Molla was “innocent” and charges against him were “false”. Nisar Ali Khan in a statement had expressed “deep grief” and concern over the execution of one of the war criminals of Bangladesh. Newspaper ‘Dawn’ reported that the minister said, “Till the very end before creation of Bangladesh, he (Molla) remained a supporter of a united Pakistan and today every Pakistani is saddened and grieved by his death.” A Tuesday night’s demonstration at Dhaka University, former President of the university’s Student Union Manabendra Dev told bdnews24.com: “Passage of this resolution in the Pakistani National Assembly has once again established Jamaat’s loyalty towards that country.” “They [Pakistan] should apologise and seek forgiveness for their policy and role towards Bangladesh. People’s hatred toward Pakistan has increased after the passage of this resolution.” He said the Pakistan assemblies have interfered in an internal matter of Bangladesh by making this move. “No state has the right to interfere with another independent state’s law and trials. Pakistan has misbehaved. Bangladesh government should expel the Pakistani High Commissioner immediately.” Meanwhile, earlier in the evening, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Pakistan High Commissioner in Dhaka Mian Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi Qureshi and lodged ‘a strong protest’ against the resolution. The ministry’s Secretary (bilateral) Mustafa Kamal conveyed the government’s protest and handed the High Commissioner an “Aide Memoire”.